Union endorses Edwards

The New York City-based Transport Workers Union of America endorsed John Edwards on Thursday, saying the former North Carolina senator was the most electable of the Democratic presidential candidates.

Edwards was to be in New York City to accept the endorsement.

In a statement, he said the Transport Workers “keep the city moving and help keep New Yorkers safe.”

“As president I’ll fight for them every day, so we can honor their hard work and make our infrastructure safe and secure,” Edwards said.

Union president James C. Little said they chose Edwards because he has the best chance to beat the Republican candidate in November 2008.

“We think he can win,” Little said.

Little also said Edwards has been a steadfast supporter of organized labor.

“He’s never deviated,” Little said. “If we look at the other candidates, most of them triangulate between Wall Street, corporate America and unions, and John has pretty much stayed on track with working families.”

The endorsement is Edwards’ fourth from a union. He was endorsed on Labor Day by the United Steelworkers and the United Mineworkers unions. He also has been endorsed by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.

The Transport Workers Union has 200,000 members and retirees in airlines, railroads, public utilities and public transportation, including workers at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City, the nation’s largest public transit system. They also represent workers at Amtrak and at American and Southwest airlines.